TZANEEN: Chairmans’ Award for dealership

One of the biggest accolades was bestowed on Trophy Motors in Modjadjiskloof at the recent annual Toyota awards ceremony in Johannesburg.

Jon Hyde, dealer principal, was awarded the Chairman’s Achievement Award.

A truly prestigious and well deserved award.

“The award came as a total surprise to me,” Hyde told LETABA HERALD.

Trophy Motors history with Toyota goes back over 50 years.

This award is the highest level of proficiency in the pyramid of excellence programmes.

“The award gives recognition to us and the community at large, which is the whole Letaba area, for total contribution and for giving back,” Hyde said Hyde has contributed immeasurably to the local community in terms of support and infrastructure.

Among those assisted, nearly on a weekly basis, include many local schools, non profit organisations and charities too numerous to mention.

Trophy Toyota opened for business in 1966, with Jon and wife Wendy, getting involved in the business in 1991 after Jon initially started a career in irrigation and piping with his father.

Recently his son, Ryan, joined the group staying with the tradition of building a family business who counts their loyal staff among their extended family.

Not many businesses survive a second generation, and this is into the third.

When he joined, Trophy was selling 10-12 vehicles a year.

Trophy now sells approximately 400 units a year.

Through the years Trophy has always been committed to service with their customers’ best interests at heart, in all aspects of the Trophy group.

This has helped the Trophy Group to grow their client base and businesses which now include a Toyota dealer, a tractor and heavy machinery dealer in Letsitele, 2 tyre fitment centers in Tzaneen and Letsitele, a Caltex filling station, a vehicle rental company and an insurance brokerage.

Toyota’s client base, who are extremely loyal and supportive of their business, have always enjoyed service excellence.

Hyde and his family continue to be on the ground and available to sort out issues (if any) with customers on a face to face basis, which has proved their commitment time and time again to both their customers and their business.

Trophy Toyota and the Trophy Group have always believed uplifting from within their own company or community.

They donate to over 50 schools, charities, sports clubs and old age homes in the community.

Their loyalty to the Toyota brand, their customers and employees, have been key to their success.

The fact that more than 50% of Trophy’s staff have been employed by the company for longer than 10 years, and around 20% of them have been with the company for over 20 years, is enough to show their caring and compassionate nature as a family concern.

Trophy Toyota broke the mould when employing staff.

“History shows us that they have employed over the years, staff from the most rural communities and areas. What they saw in these folk was passion and attitude and they have repaid his faith in them 10-fold as they have risen through the ranks at his dealership to be solid, hard-working Toyota employees,” was said during the award ceremony.

In 2013, the dealership and the town was completely transformed by New Retail Concept.

We wish Trophy Toyota the best of luck as they commence final plans to open a satellite dealer operation in a neighboring rural area.

“A very big thank you to all our loyal staff and clients for the support over the past 53 Chairmans’s Award for dealership The staff of Trophy Motors. years. We will keep it up and look after our surrounding communities as much as possible,” Hyde said.